King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Lahore

HISTORY OF KEMU

1850s

In the middle of 19th century the idea for establishment of a Medical college for undivided Punjab was placed before the imperial Government but couldn't materialize due to War of Independence.
Keeping in view both the needs for such a medical college and financial constraints Lahore Medical College was established. It was situated in Artillery Barracks at thee present site of Government College Lahore, with hospital located Ina foreign stable near the present Tibbi Police Station in Taxali Gate, nearly a mile from the College.

1860-69

Dr J.B. Scriven of General Hospital Calcutta, was nominated a the Principal of the college which after Calcutta was to be the second such institute in Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent. Admissions were opened in Oct 1860 for separate courses in English and Hidustani. The lowest qualification set for admission was matriculation. Initially, the teaching staff included a Principal and a Professor. In Oct 1860, the Hospital had 56 patients.

The difficulties faced by the newly established institution were the lack of facilities, funds and above all, to popularize the western Medicine in a massively uneducated and custom ridden society.
However, according to the Principal's report 1868, it was during 1867 when fresh native doctors of the college controlled cholera and saved the people from misery, that enabled them to win some sort of acceptance in the society.

In 1868, senate of the University of Dublin granted students of the Lahore Medical School, :privileges similar to those granted to students of English Schools", who have not passed the College of Surgeons of England.

1870-79

The present famous MYO hospital was completed in 1870 and was opened in 1871. Pudon was the architect and Rai Bahadur Kanahya was the engineer. It was named after thee Earl of Mayo, the then Viceroy. Built in Italian style, double stirred, bricked with Delhi stone brackets, the cost was Rs 1,58,951 of which One Lakh were contributed by the Government of India. Rs 26,697 by the Lahore Municipal Committee and the rest was given by the Govt. of the Punjab. Meanwhile the Lahore Medical School was shifted to the Railway Hostel near Mayo Hospital.

With the opening of Punjab University in 1870, the responsibility of conducting exams and granting diplomas was entrusted to the University. In the same year a "Hakims' class" was introduced for people with some knowledge of `Unani' system with emphasis on Anatomy and Surgery.
The recognition, college had gained by that time was amply reflected y the fact that in 1871, 190 applications were received for only 40 seats.

1880-99

In 1882, 15 graduates volunteered for military duty with Kabul forces , it further added to the prestige of thee college.
A dissection room was constructed by J.E> Hilton Executive Engineer, Lahore in 1887. Student's debating Society and Lady Aitichison College were also constructed.

The first college day was held in college library on 5th Nov, 1888. "Lady Lyall's Home" was founded in Nov, 1889 which accommodate 30 ladies.
To cater for increasing number of students, 322 in 1893, an additional professor for the Chair of Materia Medica (now known as Pharmacology department) and Pathology was appointed which raised the present number of professors to eight as compared to 14 in Calcutta at that time. In 1893-94 the lowest qualification set for admission was intermediate. A building housing the Post-Mortem theatre and a small two room Pathology laboratory was built in 1895. A training class for the "Ward-boys" and "Compouders" was introduced in 1894 and 1901, respectively.

1900-19

With the official affiliation of the college with Punjab University in 1906, the primary science teaching was handed over to Government College Lahore, relieving the Professors of Anatomy and Physiology of a heavy burden.

In order to improve the deteriorating result of students it was decided that a preliminary test will be conducted before the admission. This step proved beneficial and the pass percentage improved considerably in 1911-12. In 1906-11, due to shifting of the Chemical examiner from the college, separate museums of materia-medic, Hygiene and Midwifery were created.

The financial handicap of the College was at last acknowledged was sought to rectify the situation by taking advantage of King Edward Memorial Fund. A public meeting on 31st of July, 1910 approved the proposal of expansion of Medical college and attached Hospital, Mayo, the Albert Victor and the Lady Aitchison. The foundation stone of Mayo hospital expansion as a part of Kind Edward VII Memorial was laid on 21st of Dec. 1911 and college was named as King Edward Medical College.

Extension project of King Edward Medical College started in 1914. The viceroy Lord Hardinge of Penhurt inaugurated main block on 10th Nov 1915.

1920-29

Tutorial classes were started in 1920. In view of ever increasing no of students, the school was moved to Amritsar , making it possible for the remaining college to function in a better way. In 1935, then Principal, Nelson Harper emphasized on building Pharmacology Dept., a swimming pool and better Hostel. His ambition was not completed until 1936.

1930-39

In 1935, College celebrated its 75 years of extensive extravagantly , with out any financial support from Govt. The College was again recognized for M.B.,B.S. degree by General Medical Council of Great Britain in 1936. The D.L.O postgraduate course and B.D.S. classes were also started the same year. A swimming pool was also constructed this year from Student's Fund.

In 1937-38, Materia Medica block was extended and Embryology section started to function. Moreover, for research oriented studies, Rs 7000 were donated by Govt. to research on pneumonia. Meanwhile the Doctors of the college embarked on a journey of academic excellence. For Instance, Dr. Riaz-e-Qadeer was the only staff member who managed to pass F.R.C.S. exam held in Bombay.

1940-59

During 2nd World war, the Medical College Ambulance Core and lessons on first aid were organized. However, it was in 1947 when under the supervision and leadership of stalwarts like Colonel Ilahi Bukhsh, Riaz-e-Qadeer and Sardar Ali Shiek, the students of College worked selflessly to attend to largely massacred people who migrated from India.

With the opening of Fatma Jinnah Medical College in 1948, admissions for female students in King Edward Medical College were stooped during 1948-49. Post-graduate training for D.O., D.G.O., D.M.R.T., and T.D.D. was instituted. The Department of Pediatrics was established in 1948 under supervision of Dr. S.M.K. Waste, who was later upgraded as Professor of Medicine in 1955. The Department of Orthopedic surgery was established in 1956.
At the completion of its 100 years of existence , the college had a turn over of 100 students annually, with 697 men and 55 women under graduates on the roll, along with 20 postgraduate students. The Mayo hospital who had 800 beds and Lady wallington had 100 beds. The library had 16,173 books and a reading room. Four men's and one women's hostel housed 401 and 27 hostilities respectively, plus 9 postgraduate residents.

1960-79

In Jan 1960, Got appointed a commission to prepare a report about medical education and research. In the light of those recommendations of that commission, Lt. Colonel Rafique Ahmed Khan was appointed as first administrator to relieve the Professors from administrative work. In 1959, the post of principal was renamed as Chairman Academic Council.

The King Edward Medical College has been actively engaged in Post graduate studies also, and after 1960, emphasis was laid on diploma courses leading to postgraduate qualifications. These courses and training programs led to following diplomas: M.D., M.S., D.M.R.E., D.T.C.D., D.L.O., D.O.M.S., D.A., D.C.P., D.M.R.T., D.M.R.D., D.G.O. and F.C.P.S. part I.
In addition a six month preparatory courses of primary F.R.C.S. was instituted in 1961. The course lasted for 4 years and out of total 211 candidates. 87 passed the primary F.R.C.S. of the Royal College of Surgeons, England.
The courses were initially organized by Professors of Royal College of Surgeons. England namely Prof. R.J. Last and Prof. David Salome. Later on, these courses were wholly conducted by local staff among which Prof. Riaz-e-Qadeer and Prof. Hameed Shiekh were appointed by Royal College of Surgeons, England. These courses were abandoned when Pakistan College of Physicians and Surgeons came into being.

It was largely due to the for-sight of Prof Riaz-e-Qadeer as Principal that specialty departs were added to the college. These included, Orthopedics, Cardiac surgery, Urology, Chest surgery and Neuro-Surgery etc. This distinguished King Edward Medical College from other institutes in Pakistan.

1969-72, under supervision of Prof. Sardar Ali Shiekh and later Prof.N.A. Seyal, New Hostel for boys and a Girls Hostel, an Electron microscope and cold storage plant for Anatomy Dept, an auditorium, a mosque, Departments of community medicine, Forensic Medicine and an additional medical unit were added to existing college.

In 1976, King Edward Medical College hosted a convention of medical teachers from all over Pakistan, it lasted for 3 days. In 1978, after a gap of 7 years, College convention was held.

1980-Onwards

In order to regularize the examination system, in 1980, steps were taken to restrict course of M.B.,B.S. for five years only compared to 7 years earlier.

The King Edward Medical College Alumni symposium was held in March 1980 and five subsequent symposia were held in 1981-84. The next symposium was arranged in 1985 with celebration of 100 years of college. On this occasion, the Patiala block was extended and college building was renovated.

During 1986-89, college was extended and equipped with modern gadgets including Audio-visual library and fine communication network.
After many years of work, in 1986-87, Jilani Pavilion was completed. In 1988, a reading room was constructed over the Canteen by joint efforts of Principal and Prof. Ijaz Ahsan, Chairman of Library Committee at that time. 

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